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Rodgers to blame for Liverpool slip – Gerrard

Steven Gerrard: Hands on hips after Chelsea's second

Steven Gerrard has criticised Brendan Rodgers’ “over-confidence” ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea, which scuppered the Reds’ 2013-14 Premier League title tilt.

Liverpool led the league by five points with just three games remaining 17 months ago, but they were beaten 2-0 by Chelsea – the game which featured Gerrard’s infamous slip.

The LA Galaxy man, who has admitted to being haunted by that night, lost his footing deep inside his own half allowing Demba Ba to put the Blues ahead.

Liverpool then drew 3-3 away at Crystal Palace and ended up finishing two points behind the champions Manchester City, and Gerrard says Rodgers’ attitude ahead of the Chelsea game was costly.

In ‘Steven Gerrard: My Story,’ he wrote: “I’ve never been able to say this in public before but I was seriously concerned that we thought we could blow Chelsea away. I sensed an over-confidence in Brendan’s team talks.

“We played into Chelsea’s hands. I feared it then and I know it now.”

Gerrard also recalls the moment he was told he would not be in the starting line-up against Manchester United last season.

“A sudden lump formed in my throat,” he said. “I had a split-second decision to make. Do I have a go at him?”

Gerrard was used as a half-time substitute at Old Trafford but was sent off just 38 seconds after stamping on Ander Herrera.